Spanish style lentil stew
Aug
LUNCH/DINNER
Spanish style lentil stew
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 2 fat garlic cloves finely chopped
- 1 stick of celery finely chopped
- 1 can tomatoes, good quality
- 2 medium carrots peeled and cubed
- 1 medium parsnip peeled and cubed
- 2 medium potatoes peeled and cubed
- 300 gr green lentils (or puy)
- 1 Large handful bread crumbs (optional)
- 2 tbsp chopped almonds (optional), not ground
- 1 or 2 cubed chorizo sausages or 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 Handful of parsley leaves chopped
- 100 gr baby spinach (optional)
Tips/Notes
Tips/NotesSTORAGE: This stew will keep for up to three days in the fridge and also freezes (with the toppings mixed in to make storage easier) very well. If not using the chorizo, babies love it mixed with some milk/formula.
Tip: Save some stew and serve it with grilled sausages or roasted hake. Top with some salad leaves.
METHOD
1. Gently fry the chorizo, if using, in the olive oil and once the juices start oozing out, add onion and celery and sauté until very soft but not brown. If not using the chorizo, heat up the oil and gently fry the onion, garlic and celery for 15min before adding the paprika and lowering the heat so it doesn’t burn – it tastes really bitter if it does. Continue to fry, stirring for a couple of minutes.
2. Add the cubed vegetables, bay leaves, tomatoes, lentils, rice and enough water or chicken stock to comfortably cover it all (about 3/4lt – 1 lt).
Bring to the boil and simmer until the lentils and vegetables are cooked and the stock has reduced – about 20-25min.
3. While the stew is still hot, add the spinach so they wilt without losing their lovely green colour. In a small frying pan, add a drizzle of olive oil and gently fry the almonds and bread crumbs, watching that they do not burn. Reserve until ready to serve or freeze.
4. Season to taste (pepper only for children), and serve with a some chopped parsley and a sprinkle of the almond and breadcrumb mixture.
INFORMATION
For babies under 12 months do not use chorizo.